Railway signal-torpedo.



F. BUTCHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO. APPLICATION FILED IUNE 17. I914.

1,158,993. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

. fiber and comprises a body-portion 1, which a v, 5 E i a FRANK BUTCHER, 0e VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, assreiton'ro churn-AI RAE.-

WAY SIGNAL COMPANY, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A cos-restarts v NEW JERSEY.

T0 aZZwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DUToI-rER,.a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signal-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. I,

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, and the primary object of my present improvement relates to the construction of a' paper or fiber cir-. cular torpedo. 1 r

A further object of my present invention is to provide a circular torpedo having a paper or fiber case composed ofthree parts, the central or body portion having adepression for the, explosive compound and a surrounding laterally extendingfiange, the

flange carrying at opposite sides circular flaps of a size corresponding to the extreme diameter of the body portion, so that the flaps when folded in-and cemented efficiently close the case with the explosive therein.

A further object of my'invention isto provide :a circular torpedo having a paper or fiber case. with the body-portion carrying anannular laterally extendingfiange and one or more closingflaps of the; same size and shape as the body-portion, and a Wad fitting in the depression over the explosive,

.the flaps cemented to the flange and the wad, thus efiiciently inclosing the explosive in the depression of the body-portion.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a. perspective view of my improved torpedo showing it in place on a railroad rail.

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of Fig. 1 taken at right angles to the rail attaching strap. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the case open and the explosive and wad in separated relation, witha slight modification in the manner of attaching the railengaging strap.

In carrying out my present'improvement, the torpedo case is composed of paper or has a bulged recess or cavity 2, to receive the explosive 3. This explosive 3 is made of a contour or shape corresponding to the internal contour of the recess 2, by making the tablet circular in form with one bulged side a and a flat side 6. This body-portion 1 is provided with an annular laterally pro- Specification of Letters Patent Patented Nov. 2, 1315. v

Application filed June 17, 1914. Serial No. 8 15,6 57."

jecting flange 4, which surrounds the re:

cess2.' Attached to opposite points of the flange fiaps are made integral with-th body-portion, as shown at ,7, thus forminganjintegral connection with the body-portion and these, flaps are madeof a size corresponding to the extreme diameter of the flange-4:, so that whenthey are closed inward, one over the other as sho-wn,.in Fig. 2, they com pl-etely cover the recess 2; and the flange 4. vPreferably, the recess 2 is coated witha suitable waterproof cement 0 and then the explosive tablet 3 placed thereiI-r, Cement cl is also placed between the explosive tablet 3 and a. wad 9 of a size to fill the outer end of the recess 2, and to thereby inclose the explosive. within the recess. The flap 6 is then folded inward on the tabletwith coating of cement 0 between the flap" and the wad 9'. In" the construction shown in Figs.- 1 and 2, the rail-engaging strap 10 is placed between the inner flap 6 and the wad.- 9.; After these, parts are in position, theouter, flap 5 is then closed over this flap 6 with a suitable coating of waterproof cement fbetweenthe two flaps. In, the form;.shown in Fig. 3', the flap 5 is' provided with one or more slits 11, through: which the rail-en's gaging strap] 10 may be threaded, thus attaching the strap to theouter flap f instead of having it placed between the. inner flap16and the wad 9, as inFigs. I and 2.;

Q It will be observed that theflaps 5'and 6fhave only a relatively small hinged portion v flange; 4, whereby the flaps are held in position and made integral with the bodyportion 1, so that they will be folded and cemented to make an efiicient closure for the body of the torpedo case and the explosive. While I have shown and prefer to have the case provided with two flaps, as shown, yet I desire it understood that it would be Within the scope of the broad inventive idea to use, for instance, the single flap 6, and have it cemented in position, omitting the outer flap 5. In this event, the rail-engaging strap 10 would be between the flap 6 and the ,wad 9, the same as in Figs. 1 and2.

Attention is directed to the construction whereby the annular flange 4 is provided. This flange performs a double function, one being to stiffen and maintain the form and no i and the other being to provide sufiicient cementing surface between the flange and its adjacent flap 6, to firmly unite the flap with the flange and body-portion to make a thoroughly waterproof joint and to maintain the torpedo in a stable and permanent form.

So far as I am aware, a torpedo wholly of paper or fiber, circular in form, has not heretofore been made, with all of its consequent advantages which are recognized by those skilled in the art, as compared with torpedoes Which have a rectangular periphcry or form. I

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An improved torpedo comprising a paper case, a tablet explosive therein, a Waterproof cement coating completely surrounding and inclosing the explosive and cementing it to the casing, and a closure for the casing, the closure being cemented to the tablet by the said waterproof coating.

2. An improved railway signal torpedo, comprising a non-waterproof paper casing, a tablet explosive therein, a waterproof cement coating completely surrounding and inclosing the explosive and cementing it to the casing, and a closure for the casing, the closure being cemented to the tablet by the waterproof coating.

3. An improved railway signal torpedo comprising a non-waterproof paper casing, a tablet explosive therein, a waterproof cement coating completely surrounding and inclosing the explosive and cementing it to thecasing, a wad cemented to the bottom of the explosive tablet, and a closure for the casing, the closure being cemented to the Wad by the said waterproof coating.

4. An improved paper case torpedo comprising a casing, a tablet explosive within the said casing, a plurality of flaps carried by the casing and adapted to close it, the

interior of the body-portion provided with a coating of waterproof cement completely surrounding the explosive tablet and holding it within the casing, the inner side of the flaps provided with a coating of cement, the flaps folded one upon the other, the flap ad jacent the explosive tablet cemented to the Wad whereby the explosive is held within a waterproof cement coating and whereby the parts composing the torpedo are cemented together to form a composite article.

5. An improved railway torpedo comprising a non-waterproof paper casing, a tablet explosive therein, a waterproof cement coating completely surrounding and inclosing the explosive tablet and cementing it to the casing, an explosive holding and case stifiening wad cemented to the bottom of the explosive tablet, and a closure for the casing, the closure being cemented to the wad by waterproof cement.

6. An improved paper case torpedo comprising a casing, a tablet explosive within the said casing, a plurality of flaps carried by the casing and adapted to close it, the interior of the body portion provided with a coating of waterproof cement completely surrounding the explosive tablet and holding it within the casing, and an explosive holding and case stiffening wad cemented to the tablet, the inner side of the flaps provided with a coating of cement and folded over one upon the other, the flap adjacent the wad cemented to the same, whereby the explosive is held within a waterproof cement coating, and whereby the parts composing the torpedo are cemented together to form a composite article. r

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK BUTCHER. Witnesses R. W. JUNKER, G. M. LEONARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

